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Community Voices

A report from the frontlines

It’s time for another dispatch from the frontlines of my war with tonsil cancer. I’ve learned that a guy can learn a lot of things when dealing with such a stubborn enemy. For instance, when both your oncologist and your radiologist utter the phrase, “This is going to be rough,” you need to believe them. My cancer journey has been rougher than toilet paper made from sheets of 40 grit sandpaper. Another thing I discovered is the adage “radiation is the gift that keeps on giving” is true. I felt nearly no side effects following the first dozen of my 35 daily radiation ...

Drivers, put your phones down and slow down

I have had the privilege of working as a morning and afternoon crossing guard for Marshall Public Schools. A few years ago my assignment was the four-way stop at the intersection of Saratoga and Southview Drive. This is normally a very busy intersection during the morning and afternoon when young elementary and middle school kids either walking or riding their bikes to school. In the early morning heading toward Southview Elementary, drivers are faced with bright sunlight shining directly into traffic heading east. While traffic is very courteous watching for us as crossing guards, ...

Shining light on immigration lies

We live on the edge of Congressional District 7. My congressperson is Michelle Fischbach. She really wants me to know she’ll “secure the border.” This summer, “The Krzmarzick Household” received four 8-by-11 mailings telling me that. With grainy photos of dark-skinned people and large words like “Emergency” and “Crisis,” I’m to believe that securing the border is the greatest issue facing our household. We didn’t get any mailings about farm policy, health care, or the environment. Congressional District 7 does include a border. That would be Canadian. I think ...

Back to school highlights

The past few weeks have been exciting in our buildings as new teachers were here Aug 20-22 for a formal introduction to Marshall Public Schools and the next week all staff attended our annual Workshop Week training and activities. Our District-Wide training this year was “One District, Many Voices” and we talked about diversity in our district with conversations around how we help support all our learners and meet them where they are at as we “educate, support, and prepare all learners for success.” We have an ongoing need for substitutes in all areas and are offering a ...

Computers should be simplified for those who find them challenging

It’s been 30 years since personal computers burst on the scene, and it’s meant major changes in our daily lives. I remember back before it was called the Internet. At first it was the Information Superhighway, a name that pointed to the seemingly unlimited potential to have information at our fingertips. Has the Internet reached its potential? In some ways it has. In other ways we still have more work that needs to be done. When people have home libraries of hardbound and paperback books, they surround themselves with their favorites. They’ve probably read most of them ...

Shoe shopping

My wife and I recently went shoe shopping. As with most married couples, this meant that she shopped while I tagged along. She is quite sneaky regarding such things. I was lured into a superstore with hints that we might visit the power tool department only to find myself wandering through a maze of shoes. The stacks of footwear were high enough to tickle the bellies of passing clouds. “Where are we going?” I asked in my best non-whiny manner. “Stop your whining!” my wife replied. “You sound an electric coffee mill. We’re here because we both ...